Cervical cancer jab effect underestimated

Research by the Health Protection Agency, the University of Manchester and the Manchester Royal Infirmary found the strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) targeted by the vaccine are responsible for a higher number of cases than expected.

The researchers have found that HPV 16 and 18 are actually responsible for between 73% and 77% of cases, suggesting that the vaccine could slash rates from about 3,000 to less than 700 a year.